MINK OPAL by Jonathan Ward

With May now upon us, and the weather showing a determination to warm up, it’s the perfect time to enjoy those lazy evenings with friends. The familiarity that comes with comfortable companionship really shouldn’t be underestimated, especially when we’re constantly confronted by the “newest”, the “latest”, the “biggest”, and the “brightest”. This idea of familiarity meeting comfort is one that fragrance companies often work long and hard to achieve in their new releases, because it gives customers a feeling of security, and so to find it in abundance in Jonathan Ward’s new Mink Opal perfume is quite the achievement.

One of the biggest challenges that a home fragrance company can face is when it ventures into the perfume side of the industry. Home scents and skin fragrances work in very different ways and, if a company isn’t careful, you really can end up making the customer smell like a walking diffuser. Home fragrances are designed to be a one-hit scent, so there isn’t really a journey within the aroma, whereas a traditional perfume has a full development as it ages on the skin. Recognising that difference is key to successfully having one foot in each camp, and that is what Jonathan Ward has successfully done.

When Jonathan Ward first launched his original candle company back in 2007 he could never have imagined the stratospheric success that would immediately follow. He was in demand, his candles were bestsellers, but after seven years he bravely took a break. Those whirlwind years had taken a toll and he needed to take some time for himself. So, when it was revealed in 2018 that Jonathan Ward was back, the internet went wild. Arguably one of the finest candle makers in the United Kingdom, his bespoke wax blend and mind-blowing scents have once again made him a worldwide favourite.

Jonathan now lives in Glasgow, having relocated from London, and he told me that this swapping of “anonymous eyes for caring companionship” has allowed him to really blossom as a creator. Never one to chase trends, this latest release is the fourth in his perfume collection. He describes Mink Opal as his best piece of work to date, and it’s very clear to see why. He has skilfully managed to create a fragrance that isn’t unisex, that isn’t genderless, it’s just all embracing. With inspiration taken from an heiress’ robbery and kidnap, you know that this is going to be evocative, exciting and absolutely original.

Mink Opal opens with a gloriously jewelled blend of sugared orange and bergamot but, almost immediately, it’s joined by the wonderfully textural aroma of a fur coat lined with suede. This decadence leads down to the promised heart of rich Bulgarian rose, but it’s cleverly accompanied by a touch of cinnamon and lavender to provide a contrast to the floral. There’s a champagne fizziness to the heart of the scent as well, which mixes with a sip of boozy cognac, before a tonka-laced iris gives a powdery sweetness that takes the perfume from adorable to addictive. The arrival of earthy vetiver and patchouli, alongside a peppered amber, completes a spectacular perfume, and I can guarantee that nobody will be stealing my bottle.

Mink Opal is available from the Jonathan Ward website at thejonathanward.com priced at £78 for 100ml and £10 for 10ml. [Sample provided by Jonathan Ward].